Get the latest announcements from MEF Members across the mobile ecosystem globally in this weekly review of member news…
Mozilla revamps its iOS Firefox browser
A new version of Firefox browser for iOS will cut processor use by 40 per cent and memory use by 30 per cent, says Mozilla.
That’s so power-efficient, it help an iPhone to run a full day without a recharge. Other new features in the update include:
- The ability to add custom search engines such as Craigslist, Wikipedia and eBay.
- The ability to reopen closed tabs.
- A new method for navigating open tabs
- A new way to speed access to frequently used actions
- An improved home button
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Twilio launches Sync to make app experience consistent
“The easiest way to keep real-time applications in sync across devices and between users”.
That’s how Twilio describes its new API, Sync. The firm says that by using Sync, developers can spend their time creating features for customers instead of building backend tools to keep the experience consistent.
It gives the example of transitioning between mobile and web. Users expect to pick up on their laptops where they left off on their smartphones. And that includes messaging.
Patrick Malatack, Vice President of Product at Twilio, saidL “With Twilio Sync, Twilio takes care of the real-time infrastructure so that developers can build the apps their customers want with less effort and less cost.”
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Deutche Telekom and BMW team up on the connected car
BMW ConnectedDrive users can now connect up to 10 Wi-Fi-enabled devices at the same time, without any need for them to have their own SIM cards.
It’s one of the new features of a collaboration between BMW and Deutsche Telekom to speed up the migration to connected cars.
For the first time, an eSIM is embedded into the cars. Once installed, it can be updated from outside over the air whenever required. Once set up, the system lets users surf across borders all over Europe. Depending on their needs, they can choose from among various different data passes.
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Barclays and Samsung create internal hackathon
Developers from Barclays’ mobile and Pingit teamed have been challenged to build apps using Samsung’s secure container solution, Knox.
The teams worked on improved customer user experience, faster and more secure access to online banking and new features such as offline balance transaction reports and bank statements.
It was all a result of a collaboration between Barclays and Samsung to encourage ‘insider’ hacks.
Peter Josse, UK CIO, Barclays, said: ”This hackathon will help us to consider ideas on combining Samsung’s secure platform with Barclays’ infrastructure, and I’m looking forward to seeing the innovations that could help shape the future of banking.”
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Wirecard and savedroid introduce money-saving app
Germans can download the market’s first ‘intelligent savings app’ in a move that could challenge traditional banking.
That’s the bold claim of Wirecard and savedroid. They’ve combined to launch a new app that turn everyday habits into pure savings – whether practising sport, checking the phone or shopping. They can set the app up trigger savings on the ”If This, Then That” principle.
The app features a virtual MasterCard and an e-money account. It can be downloaded from the Google Play Store.